Still No Permits for Rebuild in Altadena

It has been three months since a wall of fire ripped through Altadena, torching 9,000 mostly single-family homes — and Los Angeles County hasn’t issued one permit to rebuild them.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to create a “unified permitting authority” they said will cut red tape and hasten the approval process, the Los Angeles Times reported.

It took two months from the January wildfires for the City of Los Angeles to issue its first building permits for three projects late last month in the fire-torn Pacific Palisades.

It’s unclear why the county has not followed suit in the unincorporated area north of Pasadena.

Last month, the county created a “one stop” permitting center to speed approvals.

Homeowners, however, say the process has been disjointed, with various county agencies all required to put on their stamp of approval. The two-week turnaround many were promised didn’t happen.

“These delays significantly impact residents who are already coping with the trauma of displacement and property loss,” said the supervisors’ motion establishing the new permitting authority.

The new authority, to be created with the Departments of Public Works, Regional Planning, Fire and Public Health, will have the final say on permitting issues. All the departments will also be asked to assign “senior-level liaisons” to the “one stop” center to push out the permits.

“Helping our communities recover swiftly and effectively from this year’s devastating fires is Los Angeles County’s highest priority,” supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose district includes the Pacific Palisades, said in a statement.

“We must ensure the rebuilding process is not only fast and efficient but also equitable and accessible for every resident.”

— Dana Bartholomew